Iowa

‘It’s so much more than embarrassment’: Eastern Iowa Tourette Syndrome activists call for education, kindness

Published

7 months ago

June 25, 2024

‘It’s so much more than embarrassment’: Eastern Iowa Tourette Syndrome activists call for education, kindness

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A semi-retired doctor and his wife are helping patients navigate Tourette Syndrome.

Tourette Syndrome is characterized by tics. These are compulsive movements or sounds people can’t control. Less than 1% of the population has the condition.

Dr. Scott Nau thought he knew about Tourette Syndrome from his medical training. However, he said his real “degree” in the field came from his marriage to Jackie, who has Tourette’s.

Jackie said having Tourette is “so much more than embarrassment and humiliation,” although she added those definitely “rank way up there”.

“I spent a year and half of my life grabbing my crotch, and there’s no way you can put a shine on that, especially for a woman,” she said. “That’s while I had a great career of cutting hair, and it makes you feel undignified no matter where I go.”

Obscene gestures and unusual sounds are embarrassing, but Jackie said what people don’t understand is that Tourette Syndrome is also anxiety and physical pain. After a lifetime of head and neck tics, Jackie had significant arthritis issues in her neck and got neck surgery a few months ago.

“I got a tiny scar there, and that was pretty brutal to go through that, and to know that it came from this disorder that I’d give anything not to have.”

Jackie said the pain and the embarrassment were made all the worse by the fact she didn’t know anyone else like her until her forties.

“When I mostly retired a couple of years ago, I realized that my patients who did have Tourette Syndrome really didn’t have the support that they need,” said Dr. Scott Nau, Jackie’s husband. “And so we decided to team up.”

With a parent’s permission, Jackie will sit in on meeting with doctor and patient. The couple goes out to lunch with patients, and they will even go to kids’ schools and explain Tourette Syndrome to their classmates and teachers.

“Oftentimes, peers become warriors for their friends if they know what’s going on,” said Scott.

Two patients the Naus have worked with are Rachel Peters from North Liberty and Torrie Davis from Cedar Rapids.

Davis was diagnosed in 2022, and Peters not until a couple of months ago.

“I will go to the bathroom and have to cry out of embarrassment because, you know, it’s very—it’s very hard,” said Peters.

Both girls said the help from the Naus has been literally life changing.

“Jackie is like a second mom,” said Davis. “She’s a role model.”

Jackie herself wishes for friendship like these girls have—someone else with Tourette Syndrome who can truly understand.

“I long for a female adult friend in my orbit,” she said.

Still, she’s determined to help younger generations avoid the isolation or the shame she has known.

“I know that I was born this way for a reason, and God has entrusted me to get the message out.”

Patients do not need a referral to see Dr. Nau about existing or suspected Tourette’s syndrome. Call Mercy Pediatric Clinic at (319) 861-7900 to make an appointment. He can usually see them within a few days.

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Related Topics:Featured Jackie Nau nau Scott Nau Tourette Syndrome Tourette treatment cedar rapids Tourette treatment Iowa Tourette's

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Iowa

Iowa Superstar Earns Fascinating NFL Draft Comparison

Published

7 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Iowa Superstar Earns Fascinating NFL Draft Comparison

Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson took the college football world by storm this year, establishing himself as one of the most electrifying offensive threats in the country.

Johnson racked up 1,537 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns on the year, leading the Big Ten in both categories. He also set the single-season rushing score record for Iowa, breaking a mark previously held by Shonn Greene. Additionally, he logged a robust 6.4 yards per carry.

As a result, Johnson’s NFL Draft stock has skyrocketed, with the 21-year-old suddenly viewed as a potential second-round pick in April.

Bleacher Report’s Dame Parson recently released a scouting report on Johnson, and he revealed a rather interesting comparison for the superstar rusher: Arizona Cardinals halfback James Conner.

“In conclusion, Johnson is a good to adequate starting running back in a versatile offense scheme,” Parson wrote. “He is more adept and suited for gap/man scheme runs, where he can attack downhill and maneuver through congestion. His functionality in the passing game makes him a good screen option to counter heavy-pressure defenses. Johnson is a lead-caliber running back who could routinely score double-digit rushing touchdowns in the NFL.”

You may think that Conner is a relatively tame comparison given how fantastic Johnson was in 2024, but keep in mind that Conner is a two-time Pro Bowler who just rattled off 1,094 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.6 yards per attempt this year. He also caught 47 passes for 414 yards and a score.

Johnson could very well develop into a lethal all-purpose back on the NFL level, so whoever lands him could be getting a steal in Round 2.

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Iowa

Iowa wind chills to hit -30 degrees. How long will they stay below zero?

Published

15 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Iowa wind chills to hit -30 degrees. How long will they stay below zero?

Enjoy the “warmer” weather while you can because Iowa is expected to see wind chill values hit sub-zero temperatures soon.

While Des Moines will reach nearly 50 degrees Friday, temperatures will start to drop and “bitterly cold winds” will enter the state, according to the National Weather Service. Some areas of the state will have wind chills of around 30 degrees below zero.

When will bitterly cold wind chills start in Iowa?

An Arctic cold front will move across Iowa on Saturday night. The coldest period will be Sunday through Tuesday. A mixture of breezy northwest winds and cold temperatures will bring wind chill temperatures down from 15 degrees below zero to as cold as 30 degrees below zero.

From Sunday to Tuesday, the overnight and morning hours will be the coldest, according to NWS.

What is Des Moines’ wind chill forecast?

By noon Saturday, the wind chill is expected to reach 0 degrees and it’s only worse from there. Sunday morning will have a wind chill of 16 degrees below and only improve to 14 degrees below zero by noon.

Monday will see similar temperatures with wind chills of 11 degrees below zero by noon and 12 degrees below zero by 6 p.m. Tuesday morning’s wind chill will drop down to 16 degrees below. By 6 p.m. Tuesday, temperatures will increase with the wind chill around 3 degrees below as the cold front begins to pass.

Where will be some of the coldest places in central Iowa?

Mason City and Estherville will see the wind chill drop as low as 29 degrees below zero on Sunday and Tuesday. Other towns like Ames, Carroll and Waterloo will see wind chills around 20 degrees below zero on Sunday and Tuesday.

How high will winds get in Iowa?

Peak wind gusts will start Friday evening and go into Saturday. Strong northwest winds could reach 30 to 40 mph Friday night.

Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.

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Iowa

Iowa drops fourth straight, losing 87-84 in OT to Nebraska

Published

23 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Iowa drops fourth straight, losing 87-84 in OT to Nebraska

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Hawkeyes collapsed in the final minutes of regulation against Nebraska, blowing an 11-point fourth quarter lead, and falling in overtime 87-84.

The Hawkeyes were 16-of-29 from the free throw line. They were 2-of-7 in the fourth quarter and 5-of-8 in OT.

Hannah Stuelke scored 16 points and added 16 rebounds. Sydney Affolter scored 10 points and pulled down 13 boards.

Iowa heads to the Pacific Northwest for games against Oregon on Sunday and Washington on Wednesday.

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